Pet of The Week

SPCA's Brody the happy Akita mix would make a great wingman

Former featured pets Macaroni and Mia are still waiting for their forever homes, so you know what to do, Dallas. This week meet Brody, who came to the SPCA of Texas on July 30 when he was rescued from inhumane conditions.

When he arrived, he was rather emaciated. But now he is happy and healthy as ever. Could this handsome fella be your new shadow? Only one way to find out:

Breed: Akita mix

Age: 2 years

Weight: 41 pounds

Personality: Brody is an energetic guy who is looking for a new playmate. He is always in a good mood, and would make an excellent running buddy or wingman at the park to impress the ladies. He is also great with kids. Whenever anyone comes to greet him, he just flips over for a belly rub.

Vital stats: Brody has been neutered and microchipped, and he has received all age-appropriate vaccinations.

Come meet Brody today (#134563) at the SPCA of Texas’ Jan Rees-Jones Animal Care Center in Dallas at 2400 Lone Star Dr., near I-30 and Hampton Road. The center is open seven days a week, noon-6 pm.

Regular adoption fees are $250 for puppies and kittens 0-6 months, $125 for adult dogs 6 months or older, $50 for senior dogs 7 years or older, $50 for VIP dogs, and “name your own price” for adult cats 6 months or older. Fee includes spay/neuter surgery, age-appropriate vaccinations, a heartworm test for dogs six months and older, initial heartworm preventative for dogs, a microchip, a rabies tag and a free leash. Call 214-742-SPCA (7722) or visit www.spca.org.

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Politics News

Dallas narrows down field for new city manager to 4 candidates

Photo by R K on Unsplash

This is an Dallasite's sign to launch that small business they've been dreaming of.

After six months without a city manager, the city of Dallas has narrowed down the field of replacements to four semifinalists including one serving as current interim city manager, plus candidates from Fort Worth, Michigan, and Georgia.

Dallas has been without a city manager since May, when previous city manager T.C. Broadnax left to take a job with the city of Austin. Since that time, Broadnax's former chief of staff Kimberly Bizor Tolbert has served as interim city manager.

The city retained Baker Tilly, a consulting firm, to recruit and compile candidates. (Baker Tilly famously erred in the brochure it created for the position by featuring a photo of the Houston skyline instead of Dallas; they've since replaced it with Dallas.)

A spokesperson for Baker Tilly did not respond to inquiries but according to D Magazine, an email listing the candidates has been sent to the Dallas City Council.

The semifinalists include:

Kimberly Bizor Tolbert, Dallas’ current interim city manager
William Johnson, an assistant city manager in Fort Worth
Mark Washington, the city manager of Grand Rapids, Michigan
Zachary Williams, a county chief operating officer in Georgia

All have more than 25 years' of public administration experience and have worked in similar capacities in their respective cities.

Before working in Fort Worth, Johnson was Baltimore’s transportation director and Atlanta’s deputy chief operating officer and public works commissioner.

Washington worked in Fort Worth and Austin before becoming Grand Rapids’ city manager.

Williams has mostly worked in Georgia at the county level, including serving as county manager in Fulton County and chief operating officer in DeKalb County.

Tolbert began working for the city in 1998, first as the city manager’s assistant and later in the aviation department. Broadnax hired her as his chief of staff in 2017.

Unlike the Mayor and the Dallas City Council, the city manager position in Dallas is not elected but is instead appointed by the city council, and is tasked with executing policies, overseeing the annual budget, and managing staff at city hall.

The council’s Ad Hoc Committee will choose finalists, introduce them to the public, and make an offer in early 2025.

politics